In May 2023, Eric and I met at a time neither of us expected. He had just moved to Virginia after finishing flight school in Texas, and I was back in Virginia myself, recovering from a knee injury after my own military training. Both of us were focused on our careers, but we each held a quiet hope that, if we met someone who truly understood us, we’d be ready to build something meaningful together.

Our story began in the most modern way—we matched on a dating app! With Eric in Hampton and me in downtown Norfolk, we didn’t expect much beyond a night with good tacos and great conversation. But little did we know, that would be our last first date.

The first few months were a whirlwind. We each had plans with friends and family that took us everywhere, but our goodnight calls quickly became the highlight of every day—a moment of calm and comfort that neither of us wanted to miss. It was as if those late-night conversations were a way of coming home. As soon as our schedules settled down, we took our first getaway to D.C., kicking off our tradition of spontaneous adventures together.

Growing up, I always had a deep love for how food brings people together. Inspired by my grandmother, this passion became the reason I got my BS in Nutrition and why I constantly explore new recipes. To honor her memory, I planned a six-week trip across Europe to immerse myself in food culture. One night in August, I joked with Eric about coming along, half-expecting him to just laugh it off. But the next day, he surprised me by asking if the offer was serious—and just like that, we were planning a month together in Europe!

From Italy’s bustling streets and stunning Amalfi Coast to Greece’s historic castles and the warm pubs of Ireland, we explored three countries and thirteen cities together. Each new place, every shared experience, deepened our connection in ways we never could have imagined. While we both felt early on that we had found something rare, it was on this trip that we truly understood what “forever” could look like.

After Europe, we were inseparable. Before we left, Eric had met most of my family at my mom’s surprise 50th birthday. Just after we got back, I met his family at a Bengals game, where he did a flyover with his crew—the first time I got to see him fly! Since then, we’ve spent holidays split between his family in Kentucky and Ohio and mine in Indiana, building memories that remind us every day that this is only the beginning of our journey together.

(Keep scrolling for the proposal story!)

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